official site for visitors to Bratislava  

The River Danube is one of Bratislava's great assets and it's possible to take sightseeing cruises on the river as well as ferries to Vienna.

Water sports are popular in Slovakia – and have been a major source of sporting success for the country. Canoeists Michal Martikán, Elena Kaliská and the Hochschorner brothers Pavol and Peter (who are from Bratislava) are all current Olympic champions in different classes. The water sports centre in Čunovo, only 20 kilometres from Bratislava's city centre, offers visitors the chance to experience a variety of adrenaline water sports, from canoeing to rafting. The purpose-built centre has skilled instructors and 5 different runs with variable difficulty. There is also a hotel with cafe-restaurant on site.

Bratislava’s location on the slopes of the Small Carpathian hills mean there is a wide range of hiking opportunities within the city itself and in the surrounding area. Forested hillsides comprise almost one quarter of the city’s area, so getting away from the traffic and bustle of the metropolis – even for just a short time – is easy.

Bratislava's busiest cycle paths (shared with inline-skaters and walkers) are near the Danube. A good south-bank ride goes from under the city's Old Bridge out to the spectacular Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum near Čunovo (about 20km one-way). It's entirely traffic free (apart from the access road to the museum) and in summer there are bars and restaurants along the path. If you time it right, you can catch a riverboat back to the city from Danubiana. Alternatively, the riverside path continues – after the dam at Gabčikovo on the north bank – along the Danube as far as the town of Šturovo (168km).

If you are a horse lover, or you like a flutter, enjoy the atmosphere at the horse races on a Sunday at the Petržalka racecourse. From the city centre, take the No. 95 bus, journey time is around 15 minutes.

Golf is a relatively recent phenomenon in Slovakia, but the number of courses has increased in recent years as its popularity – with international visitors as well as locals –has grown.